County Communications Director Recckio appointed city of Ithaca deputy manager

Dominick Recckio, who has served as Tompkins County’s communications director since 2020, was appointed the city of Ithaca’s new deputy manager Nov. 6. Recckio will fill the newly created position beginning Dec. 30.

“We continue to build a great team at the city of Ithaca. Dominick will bring significant local experience in enhancing government transparency and community engagement, as well as his commitment to the important work of developing equitable public safety initiatives,” Ithaca City Manager Deb Mohlenhoff stated in a recent press release. “I’m looking forward to working together to enhance the city’s reputation and communication with stakeholders and the public.” 

As deputy city manager, Recckio will be responsible for steering strategic initiatives, coordinating community partner programs, enhancing operational efficiency, and promoting transparent communication between the city government and its residents, according to the press release. The deputy city manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategic public safety initiatives, including an unarmed response program and coordination with the Community Justice Center. 

“There are so many great things happening at the city,” Recckio told Tompkins Weekly, adding that he has been involved with some of the city’s projects, such as the Reimaging Public Safety Collaborative, which is a joint effort between the city and the county.

“I’m going from being a communicator to having more of a direct impact on some of the things going on,” Recckio said, but he will also be putting his communication skills and experience in the realm of public information to good use. 

“[This role] is an opportunity to really build on the work I’ve done at Tompkins County. … In an information-rich environment, thinking of strategies to allow people to get information in ways that work for them, especially in a city or municipal environment — that’s really important.”

Following the hire of Mohlenhoff as Ithaca’s first city manager in November 2023, the city is now coming up on the completion of its first year within its new governance model. “That has been such a positive change for the city,” Recckio said. “There is a lot of capacity that I think is being added to the day-to-day work of the organization.”

City of Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo stated, “As the city of Ithaca settles into our new form of government, it’s important that we invest in strengthening community engagement, public information, and strategic initiatives that meet the needs of residents. Having Dominick in this new position will help ensure the city meets our ambitious goals and commitments in the coming years.” 

Recckio said that he is looking forward to shining light on the work that is being done at the city of Ithaca, bringing behind-the-scenes stories to the forefront so they can be appreciated while at the same time increasing transparency. This is a method of engaging with the community that was encouraged by the county, Recckio said. “I’ve seen firsthand what can happen when an organization wants to have those stories told,” he said.

He also noted that the city is a smaller organization than the county, with roughly one-third the number of departments. “So, I’m looking forward to some narrower opportunities to hone in on things and pay attention to the issues in that way,” Recckio said.

Recckio, originally from Port Byron, resides in the city of Ithaca and said that he appreciates the unique character of the community.

“There’s so much that’s new and growing in a great direction,” Recckio said. “I love the city of Ithaca. I think the community is amazing and diverse and welcoming.”

Recckio arrived in Tompkins County as a student at the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College. After briefly living in New York City, he came back to work at the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, where he started as a member relationships manager before moving into the role of director of strategic communications and partnerships.

“When I worked at the chamber, I used to do a lot of marketing work and thinking about Ithaca as the best small city,” Recckio said. “In my opinion, it’s a great-sized city, but it’s also on a growth trajectory.” 

“The community members who live here are really active and constantly contributing great ideas and new things,” he added. “Something I really loved about my time in Tompkins County communications was being able to manage a lot of community input.  … I loved how engaged people are in our community and how much they have to offer.”